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Tricarico PM, Mentino D, De Marco A, Del Vecchio C, Garra S, Cazzato G, Foti C, Crovella S, Calamita G. Aquaporins Are One of the Critical Factors in the Disruption of the Skin Barrier in Inflammatory Skin Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4020. [PMID: 35409378 PMCID: PMC8999368 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The skin is the largest organ of the human body, serving as an effective mechanical barrier between the internal milieu and the external environment. The skin is widely considered the first-line defence of the body, with an essential function in rejecting pathogens and preventing mechanical, chemical, and physical damages. Keratinocytes are the predominant cells of the outer skin layer, the epidermis, which acts as a mechanical and water-permeability barrier. The epidermis is a permanently renewed tissue where undifferentiated keratinocytes located at the basal layer proliferate and migrate to the overlying layers. During this migration process, keratinocytes undertake a differentiation program known as keratinization process. Dysregulation of this differentiation process can result in a series of skin disorders. In this context, aquaporins (AQPs), a family of membrane channel proteins allowing the movement of water and small neutral solutes, are emerging as important players in skin physiology and skin diseases. Here, we review the role of AQPs in skin keratinization, hydration, keratinocytes proliferation, water retention, barrier repair, wound healing, and immune response activation. We also discuss the dysregulated involvement of AQPs in some common inflammatory dermatological diseases characterised by skin barrier disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Maura Tricarico
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65/1, 34137 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Donatella Mentino
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Aurora De Marco
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Cecilia Del Vecchio
- Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Sabino Garra
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Gerardo Cazzato
- Section of Pathology, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Caterina Foti
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Sergio Crovella
- Biological Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Qatar, Doha 2713, Qatar;
| | - Giuseppe Calamita
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona, 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (D.M.); (S.G.)
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